IZ***  illMII.NI  INI  111  11  111  M  II 


UVANCtiiUCAL  TKACT  SOCKET*, 

'FlTlTJlSBURG,  Y.\. 


No.    2SQ. 


FOX-:HU:NTER 


LY 


CJSAR    MALIK,     JK     * 

BVA.  " 


1ST    AMERICAN    iBITIOJf,    TRA.NILATBB    I 


PETERSBURG,  VA. 

I'RI  N  '."'*<'  OPFICE, 

*        18G4: 


THE  FOX-HUNTER. 


"Take  us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxe?,  that  spofli  tlie  vinei." — 
Bono  of  Solomon,  2:  15. 

By  the  foxes,  may  we  not  here  understand  those  painful 
doubts,  which  even  humble,  watchful  Christians  still  feel  con- 
cerning the  state  of  their  souls,  and  their  present  peace  with 
God  ? 

Ask  sucli  a  christian,  "  Is  your  soul  perfectly  happy — that 
•is,  are  you  sure  that  at  this  moment  God  loves  you  as  his  dear 
child  ?  and.  glorying  in  his  grace,  is  it  in  his  prefect  peace 
that  you  seek  to  obey  him  ?  Or,  do  you  still  doubt;  so  that 
you  can  only  hope  for,  but  not  appropriate  such  happiness  V 

"Ah!"  replies  this  disciple,  "I  would  not  dare  to  say 
absolutely  that  I  am  a  chill  of  God.  When  I  look  to  the 
Saviour— to  his  fullness  and  love,  T  cannot  butfeel  sure  that 
he  will  finally  save  me  ;  but  when  I  consider  myself,  how  can 
I  think  that  he  has  already  done  it,  since  i  so  little  resemble 
a  redeemed  christian?  Indeed,  would  it  not  be  presumplion 
in  me  to  believe  I  am  loved  of  God,  when,  almost  constantly, 
I  deplore  my  unfaithfulness  and  backslidhfgs  ? 

The  doubt  which  this  disciple  entertains  of  the  love  of  God, 
T  call  a  fox;  because,  instead  of  relying  only  and  at  once 
upon  what  the  Gospel  says,  the  di  iciple  looks  first  to  him- 
self; and,  justly  dissatisfied  with  his  own  imperfect  love  and 
obedience  to  God,  he  cannot  believe  himself  to  be  the  object 
of  the  divine  favor,  until  he  shall  have  become  more  faithful 
and  submissive. 

How  shall  this  Christian  be  delivered  from  his  doubt3,  and 
•btain  that  "  peace  of  God"  of  which  the  apostles  speak,  and 
with  which  the  Saviour  blessed  hi*  disciples  ?  -{Rom.  y  :  1 ; 
Phil,  iv  :  7.;  J  :  27. ) 

Only  ia  tas  way ;  &/  leading  hiia  U-a-  siaapltr  fcuat  ia  tat 


2  THE  FOX-HUNTER. 

free  gift,  and  the  faithfulness  of  Ged;  for  if  he  truly  believes 
I  God  says,  he  will  necessarily  appropriate  and  enjoy  it. 
.:,  but  not  till  then,  knowing  that  ( he.  is  redeemed  by 
Christ,  since  God  tells  him  so,  he  will  contend  against  sin ; 
*npt  in  the  strength  of  his  own  resolutions,  whieh,  sincere  as 
they  may  be,  are  only  human,  but  through  the  efficiency  of 
that  filial  spirit''  which   reigns  iff  a'l  ified  "by  faith. 

(Acts  xv  :  9  :  Eph.  i :.'  13.) 

To- illustrate  this  subject/ the  reader. is  j  requested  to  listen 
o  following  authentic  story.     We  shall  here  bee  a*  minis- 
ter of   God,  a  hinder  of  certain  foxes,  which  were    spoiling 
fine  vines  ;  he  disperses  "many  painful  doubts  by   the  simple 
"Word  of  God,"  imparting  in   their  plaee  the   peace  of  the 
eh 

I  '  ree  pious  persons,  a  gentleman,  his  wife  and  daughter, 
were  conversing  with  this  minister:  ail  submitted  to  the  au- 
thority of  the  Bible,  but  their  submission  was  mingled  with 
H'olings  of  self-righteousness. 

They  were  not  urib.etteveH,  to   be  brought  to  the  Saviour, 
but  truly    obedient  to  the  Son  of  God,   and   desirous  only- to 
do  his  will;  none  of  them,  however,  dared,  to  be  sure  that  he 
was  already  redeemed  by*  Jesus — was  a  "  child  of  God/'  and" 
thus  could'  "glory  in  the  Lord." .  ■  (1  Cor.  i :  31.) 

erice  the  lather,  after  devoutly  professing  his  sincere  faith 
in  the  Son  of  God,  added  that  he  did  not  i'oA  authorized  to 
call  himself  ^one  of  Christ's'  flock.  ''  I  hope/'-  he  saidysigh- 
ingj  "  but  I  am  not  sure." 

"So  then,"  said  the  minister,  u  if  you  should  die  this  night 
suddenly,  you  would  not  be  wholly  at  peace  concerning  your 
soul's  salvation  ?" 

"  Who,  sir,"  said,  the  mother,  l-(  can  allow  himself  this  per- 
fect peace?  Doubtless  a  true  Christian,  since  he  relies  on 
the  mercy  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  has  a  '  good  hope'  of  this 
salvation,  as  the  Scripture  saith  j  but  who  would  be  so  pre- 
sumptuous as  to  feel  mvc  that  he  has  a  right  to  be  fully  re- 
ceived of  God  ?" 

"  You  will  think  me  very  proud,  and  very  presumptuous," 
replied  the  minister,  "  since  I  can  truly  say  that  I  possess  this 
perfect   peace?  -And   I  beg  you' not  to   suppose-  that  it  is" 
because  I  am  worthy,  and  thug  have,  as  you  call  it,  '  a  rignt '  - 


THE  fOX-HUN 

to  be  recti  tod.     Am  I  not,  on  the  contrary,  a  greater 

sinner  tha  since  I  am  tli  Far  from  me 

be  the  thought  that  I  am  better  one  else,  or  that  I 

have  any  .  '  rod    jives    me.     Fut 

since  he  gives  it  i   d  il  ashap- 

I  declare  it  ?     It  is  me  to  affirm  i;  ? 

Would  i  irlde  rather,  not  to  V 

"Certainly,'    said  the  father,  "\  :*'it — here 

is  my   <1m  indeed  to!  von?     It  is  so 

easy  to  be  this  poiv#.     And  it  is  this-  which  mad-, 

am  fe 

'  "I  lik'>  'id  agree  with 

you,  thut  i 
whoever  i  ves  him  this  peace,  rejoices  in  the 

"  I  should  like  to  kn  can  be  sure—  • 

t 

Bible/'  sail  the 
minisl  I  I    think  that 

we  four  ;.:  _  -  Bible  is  perfectly 

true.  3  of  St.  John, 

the  i 

men,  the  wit;. 

we  believe,  on    his  ' 

we,  on  his  *  >w  me 

to  re] 

It  will  illusl 

"  r\  Letroo]  -upon 

the  Place  in  Paris ;  andj  in  g 

instantly  set  » 

the  line  i  j 

ed  it  you, 

a  captain. 
him,  asked 
with 

u  Now,  what  will  wfco, 

re  believing,  wish  to  see  and  feel,  and,  like  the 


4  THK    TOX-Xf  NT3ER 

Thomas,  wait  for  palpable  proof  before  reiving  upon  -testi- 
mony, he  will  say,  '  A  Captain  of  the  Guard  always  wears  a 
Captain's  uniform,  and  mine  is  only  that  of  a  common  soldier. 
I  cannot,  therefore,  believe  myself  a  Captain  !'  and  the  sol- 
dier would  return  to  the  ranks. 

"  But  if,  on  the  contrary,  he  believes  fully  and  implicitly 
the  Emperor's  word,  and  that  his  rank,  as  Captain  of  the 
Guard,  depends  not  upon  the  uniform  he  wears,- but  that  the 
uniform  must  be  the  consequence  and  evidence  of  his'  rank,* 
(and  this  will  be  his  thought  if  he  honors  his  Emperor),  he 
will  not  hesitate  because  of  his  dress,  nor  will  be  return  to 
the  line.     And  such,  indeed,  was  the  conduct  of  this  man. 
As  soon  as  the  Emperor  left,  the  soldier  laid  down  his  gun, 
saying,  '  He  may  take  it  who  will/'  and,  instead  of  returning 
to  his  comrades,  he  approached  the  group   of  staff- officers. 
On  seeing  him,  one  of  the  Generals  scornfully  said:  .  '  What 
does  this  fellow  want  here  V     '  This  fellow,'  replied  tht- 
dier  proudly,  '  is  a  Captain  of  the  Guard.'     '  irou  ?  in 
friend  !     You  are  mad  to  say  so  !;     '  He  said  it,'  repli  ■ 
soldier,  pointing  to  the  Emperor,  who  was  still  in  sight.  '  1  - 
ask  your  pardon,  sir/  said  the  General  respectfully,  fIwas 
not  aware  of  it/ 

'  Here,  then,  was  exhibited  a  manifold  faitb.  Since  first 
the  soldier  believed  the  Emperor,  upon  his  word,  because  he 
heard  him,  (as  the  Samaritans  said  of  the  Saviour,)  and  after- 
wards, on  the  soldier's  word,  the  General  believed  the  Em- 
peror. 

"  You  now  see,"  continued  the  minister,  addressing  the 
young  lady,  "  how  a  person  may  be  sure  that  God  gives  peace  : 
it  is  by  believing  his  testimony,  just  as  the  soldier  believed 
that  of  his  Emperor.  •  That  is  to  say,  as  he  belie vT.ed  himself 
to  be  "captain  before  wearing  his  uniform;  so,  on  the  word 
and  promise  of  God,  one  believes  himself  to  be  a  '  chiiu  bf 
Jesus,'  before  being  sanctified  by  his  Spirit/'. 

"  A  striking  anecdote,  truly/'  said  the  father ;  u  I  hope  I 
shall  profit  by  it.  But  allow  me  to  ask,  since  the  soldier  made 
Captain  will  necessarily  wear  his  uniform,  and  since  the  Bible 
declares  that  the  true  believer  must  possess  a  certain  charac- 
ter, how  can  any  one  think  that  he  has  fcrue  faith  so  long  as  he 
does  not  behold  in  himself  tho  qualities  -and  fruits  of  faith  ? 


fan  iim-wvxm*.  • 

»  t 

An#i  I  cenfoss  it  is  this  which  makes  ine  doubt  whether  I 
have  received  the  G-race  of  God — 1  who  have  daily  proof 
that  it  is  not  the  Holy  Spirit  which  guides  me  in  all  things ." 

"'Another fox!"  said  the  minister;  "and  this  is  a  large 
and  strong  one.  But  the  Bible  can  take  him.  Listen, 
tten!" 

"  True  faith  produces  good  works.  The  Apostle  James 
expresses  this  very  clearly  :  '  Faith,  without  works,  is  dead/ 
(James  ii :  17.)  But  when  these  effects  are' wanting,  which 
proves  that  their  cause  is  also  wanting,  what  does  the  Bible 
then  direct  us  to  do  ? 

"  You,  dear  sir,  reason  thus  :  '  True  faith  produce  such  and 
such  effects;  but  I  do  not' produce  them,  therefore  I  have  not 
true  faith.'  And  thus  far  your  reasoning  is  right  and  scriptu- 
ral ;  but  then,  leaving  the  Bible  and  common  sinse,  you  add: 
'  Since  true  faith  produces  certain  effects,  and  the?e  do  not 
appear  in  me,  I  must  try  to  produce  them,  in  order  to  he  sure 
that  I  have  true  faith;'  while  you  should  say,  arguing  from 
cause  to  effect :  '  I  must  first  have  true  faith,  then  I  shall  do 
the  works  of  faith.' 

""  Thus,  for  example,  you  know  that  the  true  believer  loves 
to  read  the  Bible,* aud  to  commune  with  God  in  his  delight. 
And  if  you  see  that  you  have  not  this  habitual  love  for  the 
Bible,  you  say  :  *  Ah  I  I  must  read  the  Bible  more,  other- 
wise how  can  I  admit  that  I  am  a  child  of  God  V  Thus  you 
are  like  a  person  who  should  say :  '  A  good  fire  srives  heat; 
but  this  room  is  not  warm,  so  there  is  sot  a  good  fire.  Let 
me  try  to  make  more  heat,  that  there  may  be  a  good  fire.' " 

"  That  would  be  absurd,  sir,"  said  the  lady;  "  for  the  fire 
produces  heat !" 

•  u  Yes  madam/'  continued- the  minister,  -'just  as  the  eap 
produces  fruit.  Where  there  is  no  fruit,"  it  is  because  the  sap 
has  failed.  This  is  taught  in  the  parable  of  the  barren  fig 
tree,  (Luke  13.)  At  the  vine-dresser's  request,  hisiord  was 
patient  with  this  tree.  But  jyhat  was  the  request?  For 
three  years  the  tree  had  been  barren,  and  so  the  lord  ordered 
It'to  be  cut  down.  But  the  vine-dresser,  who  knew  why  the 
fruit  failed,  asked  his  lord  to  let  him  dig  about  the  tree,  and 
dung   it.     The  vine- dresser,  reasoning  justly,   did   not  say, 

*  Tk«  tree  aiwt  produ«a  fruit,  so  that  the  sap  may  coma  ;  but 


0  THE  FOX-HtJN] 

1  fchert  Must  be  first  m^re  sap,  that  it  may  produce  Llic  fruit.] 

s  wise  .man  began  with  the  cause  and  proceeded  te  the 
. ;  far  from  reasoning  as  you  do  about  your  works,  (which 
3  ou  wish  to  produce,  to  assure  yourself  that  your  faith  is  good  !)• 
he  argued  that  faith — the  sap—must  be  purer  and  more 
abundant,  and  then  works — tho  fruit — would  follow  as  the 
consequence/' 

."I  understand  now/'  said  the  gentleman.  "Yes,  I  see 
that -I  must  ur§t  have'a  simpler,  purer  faith,  before  I  can  pro- 
duce abundant  fruit,  or  any  works'  conformed  to  the  will  of 
&od." 

u  Certainly,"  continued  the  Hunter.     "  So  will  the  engraver 
who  cuts  the  arms  upon  your  seal.     The  first  impression  no' 
being  to  his  taste,  he  applies  himself  to  mend  the  seal  and  ' 
engraving,  and  not  the  impression." 

"  Certainly  !"  said  the  lady.     "  Had  he  made  a  thous. 
jressions,  they  would  have  been  the  same  while  the  sea 

anged." 
'''.Wherefore,  madam/'  continued  the  minister,  "  when  yo 
saw  that  your  actions  did  not  correspond' with  the  Bible-model, 
should  have  attended  first  to  the  seal — to  the  faith  whiek 
produced  them." 

"  Th!    i  '  said  the  father.     ''-  Bat  allow  me  to  say  I 

have  still,  at  least  in  regard  to  myself,  a  great  difficulty.  If  I 
am,  as  you  say  I  should  believe — if  I  am  one  of  the  redeemed 
tf  God — one  of  bis  children,  he  would  tell  me  so,  and  I  should 
rejoice  in  it:  whereas  it  is  not  so  with  me.  It  seems  as  if 
•verybody  would  be  saved  rather  than  myself.  This  is.  my 
great  grief." 

"  But  sir,"  replied  the  minister,  "  if  God  has  told  you  so, 
and  repeated  it  often,  and  you  have  always  refused  to  believe 
wonder  that  you  do  hot  know  it,  and  do  not  possess 
this  joy  of  the  Holy  Spirit?  * 

"  Would  the  soldier  have  exulted.- in  his  promotion,  if, 
though  the. Emperor  had  told  him,  lie  had  refused  to  believe 
vord?.  The  Apostle  says  to  the  Ephesians  :  '  After  ye 
believe!,  ye  were  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise; 
ih.  i :  13 ;)  but  you,  sir,  would  wish  to  have  this  seal,  and 
the  jeyit  brings,  before  you  believe!.  But  though  you  may 
attempt   to   change  the  order  of    its  operation,    that    grace 


remains  ever  the  same  -r  only,  by  denying  its  presence  and  effi- 
cacy, you  deprive*youvself  of  its  •effect  " 

11  It  is,  indeed,"  said  the  father,  "  to  wish  for  the  fruit 
before  having  the  sap  !" 

"  Listen  to.  another  proof  of  it,''   contiuued  the  minister. 
•-  I  was  preaching  in  a  garrisoned  town.  •  The  generals  and 
other  officers,  with  brilliant  epaulettes,  sat  before'  me.     In 
explaining  tbo  text,  •  Faith,  without  works,  is  dead,'    I  had 
occasion  to  show  that  divine  works  are.  in  the  believer,  the 
evidences  of  divine  fail h  ;  that  is,  they  are  the  operation  of 
the  Holy  spirit  in  the  heart  which   lie  has  purified;  and  the 
j   better  to  show  Yhat  faith  must  necessarily  precede  works,  I 
*i  suddenly  suspended  my  argument,  and  addressing  the  officers, 
•aid  to  tli  em  :  '  Am  I  not  right,  gentlemen?     You  donot  re- 
ceive your  epaulettes  before  your  commission,  but  your  oom- 
e  yeur  epaulette*?'     The  soldiers-  smiled  assent. 
I  continued  my  discourse,  and  God  blessed  that  question ;  for 
)  the  same  evening  a  Colonel  said  te  me:  'Thanks  to  God,  I 
now  understand  that  I  was  Colonel  before  I  wore  the  uniform. 
I  believe  God.   who  tells   me»  he  has  pardoned   me;  even/ 
added  he,  lowering  his  voice,  '  though  I  can  scarcely  yet  per- 
ceive the  epaulettes  of  my  rank.'  " 

"  True,"  said  the  young  lady,  "  and  yet,  evidently,  he  was 
sure  of  it." 

u  Yes,  my  dear,"  said  the  minister  ;  "  and  if  I  did  not  fear 
to  weary  you,  I  could  tell  you  the  reply  made  me  by  a  young 
lady  who  at  first  had  sighed  as  you  do/' 

w  Relate*  it,  I  pray  you,"  said  the  father.  "  It  will  interest 
us  all." 

"  Well,  then* on  a  little  missionary  tour,"  said  the  minister, 
"  I  stopped,  towards  evening,  at  a  country  seat.  The  conver- 
sation of  the  evening  was,  as  ours  now.  upon  our  duty  to 
believe  what  God  says." 

'"And  were  there,  then,*'  said  the  father,  apologizing  for 
the  interruption,  "these  t/6xssi  the  Utile  Jbxc&  which  spoil -the 
vines  V  " 

"  Savern!  ef  theua,"  replied  the  minister,*smiling.  ••  1  had, 
therefore,  to  parfonn  my  ofn«e  ef  ftuaier,  and  the  those  was 
truly  a  gjeed  one  as  yen  will  nee. 


^  The  compaoy  were  children, 

tlie  eldest  a  daughter  named  Eliza,  and  ffcr  two  .brother*' 

"  This  young  lady,  wl  led  with 

doubts,  whfehjfroce 

interested  in  oar  discussion.  *  !  asked  me 

ho,v,  on  the  sii  :  ;  •■  could  be 

sure  that   he  is   p  chil 

1  when  he  daily  feels  that  *h  ihling  the 

Lord  Jesti 

"  I  then    I      rei  ares, 

and  I  dwelt  esj  who, 

on  the  simple  w  i  to  doubt, 

was  nevert  su  _  :  \va  •  also  . 

sure  that  il  fed  in  one 

.  of  the  descend  I 
was  •■.'■. 

this  young  lady>       tl 
first  th  it  ;  ,- 

given  us  61  .  -  lIo;  te  she 

must  look  for  9    ■'.  •  :  .  iy  6u   the 

expiatory  gacrifi  ' 

God  further  d 
ought  to 
life. 

"  A.od  w  .  le  if  it  was  j^sary 

that  she  should  true  faith ,'Xfk  order 

to  be  sure  that  she  beli  it  though' 

these   proofs    \  and   sensible 

demonstration  fter-thel 

existence  of  dlv  conse- 

quences of  then 

l-  I  then  quo.  od; 

which  we.hav 
stand  it,  I  N 

"  Suppos'  tds  in 

a  brook  where  we  were 

from  the  sand  a  rou^h  g  g  you:     * 

this  is  a  fine  diamond!  when 

it  shall  be  cut,"     \'  pricej 

of  it  to  the  ere  -ken  of  te 


THE  FttX-HVXTKK.  S 

m«.     I  •h»*rfYllj  giv«  yoa  thsitc 

"Now,"  said  L  to  this  youn 
in  your  hands   only   a  p  -  ;  but 

pince  you»believe<i  Die  when  ]  you 

are  sure  jt  is  one  ;  and  you  no!  oi 

'you,  but  when  you  afterward  .  y,  you  do 

not  ask  him — 

prove  that  you  hud  not  entir< 
only  saj :    ■  Polish   this  diamond 
watch  the  cutting  of  its  sparklinj 

•  It  is  really  a  diamond  ' — a  rem.;:  dis- 

trust of  me  ;   but    \  I  simply   exi 

water  it  is.' 

"  And  so,  pursuing  the 
polishing  ad<js  te  the  bea  ity  or'  the  di 
it  a  diamond,  s 
exhibits  more  and  u 

■:er  ;  but  that  this  - 
of  God,  and  th'at  il 
to  his  bouJ  fro*)  i  the  « 
Jesus  Christ      (Rom.   \  . 

u  Thus  closed  the  evening,  and  1  „ 


--  • 


called  upon  to  '  give  thank 
ered  us  from  the  power  of  dark] 
unto  the  kingdom    ■>  if  Son.' 

"  The  next  mo 
to  drive  on  to  the  next  villagej  t; 
came  quickly  down  the 
I  drove   away.    I  called  out   to  the  d 
Eliza,  what  are  you   befora 
she  replied,  '  but  very  rough  !'     Sim] 
which  declared  that  she  believed 
though  she  saw   how    ] 
and  believed  God's  declaration,  that 
the  Sou  hath  eternal 
So  I  replied,  as  I  drove  away  :     •  Go 
polished.'  "' 

"  Good  !"'  pa 
diamond  !     jjut  I  now  understand.     B 
net  a  common  stone 


10 


TTtE  FOa>H&NTER. 


is  already  a  child  ot  God,  and  not  the  unbeliever's  heart. 
This  is  now  clear  to  me." 

"Yes!"  said  the  mother;  "but  I  have,  a  scruple  which 
prevents  my  believing  that  I  am  a  diamond.  Do  I  believe 
what  God  says  enough  tc  be  assured  of  his  promise?" 

"  Foxes  still !"  replied  the  minister  affectionately.  "  Come 
on  !  to  the  chase  !  we  will  take  them,  if  God  please  i 

"  And  this  fox,  dear  madam,  is  the  notion  that  you  make 
God's  declaration  any  more  true  by  your  believing  it,  more  or 
less." 

"  But/'  said  the  gentleman,  "  if  I  believe  it  but  little,  isnt 
not  less  true  for  me  than  if  I  believed  it  entirely  V* 

"You  mean  to  say,"  replied  the.  minister,,  that  the  more 
firmly  you  believe  what  God  affirms,  the  more  you  enjoy  thi* 
truth,  or  promise;  and  certainly  you  are  right.  %s  we  live 
by  faith  it  is  plain  that  the  more  you  believe  God  the  more 
you  will  live  by  him.  But  this  is  not  what  madam  said  when 
she  expressed  fears  of  no£  believing  firmly  enough  for  this  to 
be  true  in  regard  to  herself.  What  the  Bible  says  is  true,  not 
because  we  believe  it,  but  only  because  God  says  it.  Whether 
it  is  believed~or  not  believed  does  irot  affect  its  truth.  It  was 
perfectly  true  before  I  believed  it,  ancWif  I  do  not  believe  it, 
the  thing  remains  none  the  less  true.  For  example,  God  telle 
me  I  am  born. in  sin — a  thing  I  certainly  cannot  feel,  since  I 
could  not  feel  my  birth,  and  which  I  shall  not  make  more  nor 
less  true  by  believing  or  denying.  If,  then,  I  believe  it,  I 
simply  '  set  to  my  seal  that  God  is  true/  says  John  the  Bap- 
tist ;  and  if  I  do  not  believe  it,  its  truth  is  not  destroyed,  but 
only,  St.  John  says,  - '  we  make  God  a  liar  by  not  believing 
what  he  affirms/  . 

"  Then,  sir,"  said  the  lady,  "  we  have  only  to  believe  that 
God  says  a  thing!  When  we  are  sure  he  says  it,  are  we  alse 
sure  that  the  thing  is  true  ?" 

.  "Certainly!"  replied  the  minister.  "If  God  says,  for 
example,  that  he  created  the  world  of  nothing,  it  is  entirely 
true.  He  who  believes  it,  on  the  word  of  God,  is  sure  of  it. 
So,  if  God  tells  a  soul  that  he  now  has  eternal  life,  this  soul, 
if  he  believes  God,  must  be  sure  of  it." 

"Sure?"  returned  the  lady.  "What,  sir,  at  eaee,  **i 
without  any  previous  preparation  or  dispesitiea  f* 


THE  FOX-HUNTEE 


"Judge  of  it  yourself,"  replied  the  minister..  "  I  open  the 
testament  at  the  tenth  chapter  of  Romans,  and  read  these 
words  in  the  9th  verse:  '  If  thou  con/as  with  tJuj  mouth  the 

*  "  Oh  !"  said  the  lady,  ".that  I  can  do  sincerely.  Yes, 
thanks  to  God,  I  confess  openly,  and  with  my  mouth  that, 
Jesus  is  Lord— that  is.  God  himself." 

"  You  do  not  say  it,"  asked  the  minister,  "  as  so  many  do, 
merely  from  education  and  habit,  without  any  serious  convic- 
tion of  it,  for  who  in  our  country  does  not  say  that  he  believes 
m  the  Lord  Jesus  F" 

"No!"  said  the  lady  promptly  "J  believe  sincerely 
and  •  earnestly  that  the  Lord  Jesus  came  from  God,  and 
that  he  is  God  himself;  Cod,  with  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit."  *  ' 

"Let  us  continue,  then,"  said  the  minister;  «  '  And  thou 
kmevest  with  thy  heart  that  God  raised  hint' '' 

«  That  is  my  belief,"  interrupted  the  lad y.  •<  Yes,  the  Lord 
Jesus  is  in  heaven,  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father  !" 

"Well,  then,  madam,"  resumed  tie  minister,'  "since  Ood 
says  to  the.  person  who  has  this  faith,  and  who  declares  it  a* 
you  have  done—  Thoushali  besaved,  whatomjht  you  to  believe 
you  will  be?" 

"Saved!"  uttered  the  lady  tremblingly. 

"  Yes,  madam,"  affirmed  the  minister,  "  if  you  are  eonseious 
arid  sure  of  your  belief  in  the  truths  you  have  expressed,  and 
thus  you  do  not  found  your  belief  on  man's  teaching,  but  en 
the  word  of  God."  '  fe 

"But  why  do  you  repeat,  on  the  word  oj  God?"  a^ked 
the  lady.  «  Is  it  notenough  that  I  believe  this,  because  it  is 
in  the  Bible  ?"  . 

« You  will  not  be  offended  if  I  say  this  is  another/**.  " 
said  the  minister.  "  Let  me  show  it  to  you,  that,  you  may 
chase  it  from  your  heart.  You  ask  me  if  it  is  not  enough  to 
behevewhatis  in  the  Bible,  without  the  assurance  that  you 
believe  it  upon  the  word  of  God?  But  do  you  not  see  that 
the  word  believing  is  used  instead  of  being  persuaded  or  eon^ 
vm<*d  that  a  thing  is  true  ?  Now  self-given  assurance  is  net 
faith  ;  since  faith  is  not  the  persuading  one's  self  that  a  thing 


12  Tv;  7'.   roX-feVNMt. 

is  tri&e;  but    the    admitt  :d  ©r 

testimony  of  another." - 

"  Let  us  understand  this./ '  said  th<    .  ".fori  think 

it  is  very  important."  ... 

"  It  is  indeed/'  said  the  minister.     •■'  I  ■  'y,- there- 

fore, a  few  illustrations.  Suppose  we  were'  hi  Bethany,  with. 
Lazarus  and  his  sisters,  and  we  sec  a  dozen  men  approaching, 
among  whom  one,  whose  exterior  is  remarkable  for  its  gl- 
and sweetness,  is  evidently  honored  <by.  the  rest.  Yon,  sir,, 
ask  me  who  this  person  is?  Just  as. I  am  about  ■>  answer,  a 
woman  throws  hetftolfat  his  feet,  and  worships  '  Hor- 

rible  !'  you  exclaim,.  "  is  she  a  ;a  orship  ami 

1  She  is  right/  I  reply,  'for  this  man  is  the  Messiah — God 
manifest  in  the  flesh  !7  '  4  The  Messiah  !'■  you  exclaim  •  '  is  it 
possible?     Do  I  see  the  Messiah?'     And  personage 

approaches,  and  asks  you,   (  )  (  Whom 

say   you    that  I    am  pu  art  the 

Christ,  the  son  of   t   e  ;  ich  s'ciev 

made,#nd  which  the  Lord  :    tedtohiia 

by  the  Father.     (Matt.  ,   you  see, 

you  have  not  declared  wlnit  \  crraaded  youv- 

ssl/waM  true,  but  what  w  lieved  because 

Qed  revealed  it  t©  you." 

"Then,  sir,"  gaid  th<  iat  they  believe 

in  Jesus  Christ — -and,  i,  toes  not? — ha\e  received 

the  revelation  from  God,  •■■.•  faith  ?" 

"  Ah  !  madam/''  replied  the  minister,  <i  ii  vo.already 

remarked  .expressly,  they  any  so  from  meio  tradition  and 
habit,  or  because  they  fancy  that  i    is  the  Son  of 

God,  their  faith  is  only  a  hutusm  persuasion.  But  if  he  who 
says  he  believe?,  believes  because  (}od  tell  .  and  thus 

receives  the  testimony  of  God,  he  ha-  lith  in  the  Son 

ef  God,  and  has  then  been  taught  of  th 

"  I  understand,""  said    tne  <l:->u  :    toil    us,  sir, 

that  I  must  believe   that  th*  me  from   God, 

and  that  he  is  th©  Messiah    \  •  the  foundation  %£ 

the  world — the  seed  of  the  woman, -Emmanuel^ — not  because 
I  imagine  it  to  he' true,  nor  because  »\\    the  world    says 
professes  it,  but  simply  because  G 

"Observe/'  said  the  mini^r      ,  lares  thisi 


.   TBK  JOX-H-UN'TII*.'  18 

when  he  says  :  '  Xe  man  ean  say  that  Jee«.*  is. the  Lerd,  but 
by  the  Holy  (iho3t.     (1  Cor.  xii  :8.)      Supposition,  imw 
tion,  cannot  proceed  from  the  teaching   of  the    Holy  Spirit. 
To  imagim:  and  to  say  |         vicar,  is  one  thing  ; 

but  to  believe  it  because  God  says    it,  is  another  thing,  and 
this  is,  indeed,  to  confess  Christi." 

f  I  do  not  clearly    u  tinctiou,"  said  the 

father.     "  Will  you  explain  if.  ;" 

';  Suppo  '  aister,  Ci  that  I  embark  by  night 

at  Boulo^n  ;  for  L  im  told  that  the  Freneh  am- 

bassador is  on  board,      I  a  n    pi  I   hope  to  see  him  in 

the  morning.     And,  inj  ;'it  the  next  morning   [ 

meet  five "*jr  six  gentlemen  he  deck  *  and  noticing 

on  5  of  them  covered   with   decorations^  to    whom    the  others 
show  df   '  That  is  the  ambas- 

sador,;' and  !  .  for  it  is  he. 

"Y,  -:s  person  is  the  amjiaa- 

gador  •  ion  ;  and, 

it   is  no*  position,  my  own 

on ;  for,  on  ap- 
y    I  am  to  fee  -and 
the  French  am  in  order    to  try  uu. 

with  [  blush    and  ] 

ionfu  r  my   mistake.     But  ir, 

rs  his  hand,    sniilin  t,  I    am  tb< 

bassador.'     Now,  you  belief   changes   wholly  its  na- 

ture-; since  at  first  it  w  wn    ,  ~       -ion,  while 

3   from    an  aasuram  me,  and  rests  upon 

the  veracity  of  him  who  speataa  to  i  certainty 

is  faithj    belief;  while  the   firs':  is  only   imagination,    easily 
dispelled.'? 

"  Mow  does  thia  apply  to  our  of  being  save 

said  the  young  lady. 

'*  I  will  tell  you, 
j  confidently :  ll  am  .      i  mud  me!; 

are  yon  ■  iui  tbey  lay  ; 

and  when  you  asi  ving  in  Jesus/ 

ily :  ''It  is  med  us.'     So 

that  .  e  themselves  that  they 

are  saved,  .  .  ;,*t  ifee.Sa- 


v' 


14  TKB  FOX-H¥NTER. 

viour  has  redeemed  them.  Their  belief,  then,  in  the  persua- 
sion that  they  themselves  have  f  rmed,  and  not  a  certainty 
proceeding' from  what  God  has  told  them." 

"  But,  sir/'  resumed  the  deiughter,  "  the  SuvLur  does  not 
n -'.w  speak  to  us  as  God  addressed  Abraham,  personally.  No 
Christia  *  can  say  that  the  Saviour  has  positive  y  told  him 
tha.  he  has  redeemed  him/' 

"And  yet,  dear  daughter/'  replied  the  minister,  "if  it  is 
riot  God  himself  who  has  teld  me  what  I#bel;eve  respecting 
my  salvation,  what  other  is  my  belief  thai  that  human,  me- 
chanical, unreflecting  faith  whieh  the  Romanist  has  in  his 
priest,  or  the  Mohammedan  in. his  fakir  ?" 

•'But,  sir/'  "persisted  the  daughter,  "where  and  when  doee 
Crod  thus  speak  to  a  person  1" 

.  "Dear  Mies/'  said  the  minister,  "does  not  God  speak  to 
you  personally  when  he  tells  you,  in  the  Bible,  that  you  are  a 
.ost  sinner  t.  Does  he  not  a  so  tell  you  personally  that- pardon 
of  sins,  and  eternal  lUe  are  his  free  gilt,  and  that  .this,  gift  i« 
wholly  in  Jesus,  whom  God  declares  to  yen  to  be  his  son  ? — 
And  finally,  is  it  not  to  you,  distinctly,  that  he  says  :  'Who- 
soever belives  wnat  God  says  of  bis  Son,  and  consequently 
trusts  in  him  from  tie  heart,  is  freely  justified/  and  ought  te 
'know  that  he  hath  eternal  life  V 

"  I  pray  you,  my  friends/'  continued  the  minister,  address- 
ing also  the  parents,  "does  not  this  Book  speak  to  us  person 
ally  every  time  we  read  or  hear  it?  Are  noMbe  words  it 
addresses  to  iur  soula  wha.  the  sound  of  the  be  1  or  the  noise 
©f  thunder  is  to  our  ears  ?  This  sound,  this  noise,  if  general, 
is  alsq  individual.  Observe  in  a  city,  when  the  authorities 
publish  a  law,  although  addressed  to  all  the  citizens,  is  it  not 
also  to  each  one  separately,  as  much  as  if  the  magistrate  should 
speak  to  each  person  f  *  Do  you  think  that  "when  the  law  has 
been  published,  any  citizen  would  say  it  doea  not  eoncern  him, 
because  the  authority  has  not  spoken  to  him  individually?— 
How  then,  after  the  Bible  has  been  pub  ished  in  our  own 
language,  and  read  in  our  hearing,  shall  wesay  :  'God  has  not 
spoken  directly  to  me/  Would  this  excuse  have  been  receiv- 
e  if  an  Isrealits  had  made  it  when  God  published  the  law  in 
Horeb  1  And  did  the  Lord  speak  less  strongly,  er  individual- 
ly, whei  ke  was  lifted  mp  en  the  cress  ?  er  when  the  Father 


THE  JTUjAlUN  II.  i:  §1 

said  of  Je*,us  :  'This  is  my  beloved  Sou;  hear  ye  him  V  '  Just 
as,  in  the  nineteenth  Psalm, \he  heavens  dcclare'the  glory  of 
God  to  all  men  who  see  them,  so  by  every  man  whom  it 
reaches  is  the  perfect  law  of  God  to  be  heard." 

"I  underhand,"  said  the  daughter.  "  When  I  hear  the 
voice  of  God  he  speaks  to  me,  and  I  am  bound  to  believe 
him.  But,  sir,  I  do  not  feel  that  he  says  I  am  one  of  his 
children — of  his  elect. 

"Dear  <  aughter,"  replied  :       !  '  "please  God  that 

this  crafty  fox  be  the  last  !  "  You  say  :  I  do  not  feel  V  But 
do  you  feel  that  there  has  been  a  deluge  upon  the  earth  1 — 
And  yet  you  are  sure  of  it,  simply  because  God  t^ils  you  so. 
Do  you  feel  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God  ?  And  yet  you  are 
sure  of  it,  and  because  God  tells  you  it  in  his  word.  If,  then, 
the  same  true  God,  in  the  same  sure  Word,  tells  you  that  the 
soul  to  whom  he  has  given  his  faith  which  you  have  in  Jesus, 
Bon  of  God  and  Saviour,  'is  passed  from  death  unto  life/  and 
that  he  is  a  child  of  God — if  God  tells  it  you  yourself  who 
believe  in  the  Saviour,  why  will  you  reply  to  God  :  'I  am  not 
lurt,  although  thou  tellest  jue  so,  for  I  de  not  feel  it'  ?  This, 
eertaimly,  did  not  L  ho  relates,  if  I  mistake  not,  in  a 

private  letter,  that  ,  I  )him  :  k  Martin,  do  you 

/'*el  that  you  are  a  ch  >d  V  answered  shortly  :  'No,  but 

I.  am  store  of  it.     Get  thee  behind  me.'" 

"Firm   and  beautiful   rep]  the  father.     It  alone  is 

vorth  a  volume." 

"But,"  said  the  mother,  "true  faith  is  not  only  knowledge, 
it  rs  confidence — it  is  a  feeling.  For. example:  though  I  know 
believe  that  Moses  gave  law*  to  Isreal,  I  do  not  believe  in 
Moses ;  that  is,  I  am  not  subject  to  hint!  I  do  not  feel,  then, 
in  regard  to  him,  what  any  pious  woman  felt  before  the  taber- 
nacle of  the  wilderness."' 

"If,  then,  Madam,  usi  ."   own    words,"   replied    the 

iter,  "you  believe  in  Join*  Christ,  as  the  Isrealitisn  wo- 
man believed  in  Moses,  you  tr.ttst  hare  the  same  kind  of  sen- 
timent toward  the  Saviour  which  she  had  toward  Moses. 

"But  remark,  that  when  Moses  declared  anything  to  the 
children  @f  Isreal.  this  woman  did*not  say  :  "TIio  thing  is  not 
true  for  me,  because  T  80  not  yet  feel  the  effect*  ef  it;'  but  on 


14  TCHI  TOT-HtfNTOWfc 


feke.eonti-ary,  *h«  said  :  'The  thing  is  true,  since  Moses  says 
it;    and  onl^  after  this  could  she/W  the  effect  of  it." 

"I  see  the  difference,"  said  the  lady.  "Yes,  I  must  first  be- 
lieve in  Jesus  Christ  with  confidence,  and  then  I  must  rest  in 
all  that  he  says." 

"  Right !"  said  the  minister.  (i  So  the  Scripture  eaith  : 
'With  the  heart  man  believeth  \into  righteousness/  (Rom.  x. 
10,)  and  does  not  regard  those  as  true  believers  whose  hearts 
are  not  interested  in  the  person  and  work  of  Je^us.  In  the 
parable  of  the  sower,  for  example,  those  only  recer»ed  the 
►  eed,  that  is,  truly  believed,  who  received  the  word  in  a  good 
and  honest  heart.  Though  at  Samaria,  the  magician,  Simon, 
professed  to  believe,  he  had  no  part  nor  lot  in  this  matter, 
since  bis  h»art  was  not  right  in  -the  sight  of  G^d.     (Acts  8.) 

'*  But  it  is  one  thing  to  say  that  true  faith  in  Jesus  exists 
in  the  heart,  and  another  thing  to  say  that  God  must  not  bo 
believed  until  after  a  person  shall  have/eft  the  effect  of  what 
he  affirms.  God  must  be  believed  at  once,  and  upon  his 
word.  The  feeling  of  what  he  declares  must  therefore 
follow  and  not  precede  belief  in  his  word.  The  believer  will 
then  say  :  \  I  feel  because  I  have  believed  ;  and  not  i  1  believe 
hwause  I  have  felt.' " 

£<  How  simple  this  is  !"  said  the  father.  "  And  is  it  thus, 
sir,  that  the  Bible  characterises  true  believers?" 

"  Always,"  replied  the  minister.  "When  GtSd  said  to 
Noah  that  there  should  be  a  deluge  upon  the  earth,  Noah  be- 
lieved Q-od.  Then  the  effect,  the  evidence  of  this  faith  was 
that  '  he  feared,'  as  St.  Paul  says,  (Heb.  xi :  7,)  aiul  '  prepared 
an  ark/  The  building  of  this  vessel  was  the  result,  the  neoes- 
sary  consequence  of  Noah's  belief ;  and  the  patriarch-  muit 
have  said,  during  the  century  and  more  that  this  work  lasted  : 
'I  build  the  ark  because  I  believe  God.'  Never  did  he  think 
of  saying:  '  I  am  sure  that  I.s-^lieve  God,  because  th<a  ark.'ii 
being  built.''  Wheu  God  told  Abraham  that  he  should  be  a 
father  of  nations,  and  wished  him,  therefore,  to  call  himself 
Abraham,  that  is,  father  of  many,  though  this  believer  could 
not  in  any  way/ee/  the  reality  of  the  promise,  he  believed  it 
so  that  he  laughed  for  joy.  (Gen.  xvii  :  17.)  But,  his  failk 
p&eeeded  kis  jo^.     He  did  sot  &ay,  cl  am  kuu  I   believe  be-- 


7ME  y©X-H¥NTRR  17 

•ause   I  aui  glad;  but,  <  it  is    because  I   believe   tired   that  I 

-  rejoice.' ' 

"  It  w  .s  not  so  with  Sarah  j  for  thou/h  afterwards  she  also 
believed  God,  and  through  faith  became  a  mother,  (Heb.  xi  : 
11,)  at  first,  so  far  from  believing,  she  laughed  from  distrust, 

■  savin;  :  <  Shall  I   of    a  surety  bear   a  child,   which  am  old?' 
(Gen.  xviii :  Vi.) 

uOb  c*rve  the  difference  between.  Abraham's  laughter  end 
that  of  Sarah,  and  bewarfe  of  saying  like  her  :  '  Can  God  pos- 
sibly have  already  shown  me  favor,  sinner  as  I  still  feel  my- 
■elfrtoW" 

"  Now  I  understand  !"  said  the  daughter.  <l  First  God 
must  be  believed,    whatever  lie  may  say,   and  however  appa- 

.  rently  contrary  it  raa^  be  to  our  persuasions." 

"  Certainly  !"  continued  the  minister.  "  If  in  the  begin- 
ning Eve  had  observed  this  principle,  she  would  not  have 
'made    God  a  i  St."  John   says,    (1  John    v  :  10,)  by 

taking  the  forbidden  fruit.  So  the  .-:  pestle  Peter,  when  the 
Lord  told  him  to  come  to  him  upon  the  water,  would  hare 
walked  safely  j  but  ceasing  to  believe  w^en  he  wished  to  /eel, 
immediately  began  to  sink.  '  0  thou  of  little  faith  I'  said 
Jesus  then  to  him.     (Matt,  xiv  :  31.)" 

"  There  is,  nothing  more  to  reply,"'  said  the  father,  ii  This 
is  positive,  if  I  can,  be  assured  that  I  sincerely  and  from  the 
heart  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  I  mean  in  hi«*  person  and  in 
what  he  \  for  us,  and  that  so  1  behold  and  worship 

him  as  being  really  eome  fiem  the  bather  ;  as  having  indeed 
lived  on  earth;  as  having  fulfilled  all  that  the  Gospel  relates; 
and  especially  as  having  shed  Eii  blood  for  (he  remission  of 
sins  ;  then  as  being  p  and  seated  at  the  right  hand  of 

power  of  Go  i ;  and  as  finally  to  return  to  us  at  the  lajt  judg- 
ment ;  if,  I  say,  ibis  is  my  sincere  belie!',  I  must  also  believe 

Iwhat  God  dcel  the  man  to    whoii   he    has   given  this 

I  "holy  faith,  na  ssed  from  death  UDtolife,  and 

shall  not  come  into  condemnation.  (John  v  :  24.)  Yes,  sir, 
I -see  it  clearly.  All  our  doubts  and  difficulties  are,  after  all, 
onlj  unbelief  of  what  God  iays — only  self-righteousness;  since 
with  me,  at  least,  it  is  wishing  to  put  my  sentiments,  and  my 

I  own  opinions,  in  place  of  what  God  says.      I  see  it  now,  and 
•  tkank  yoa  with  all  my  heart." 


1$  THE  F<3X-£eNTER. 

*  ■  •  . 

"  That  is  to  say,"  replied  theminister,  "  we  together  render 
thanks  to  God,  who  alone,  by  his  Irving  Word,  enM»ghtens  the 
mind  and  touches  the  heart  visited  by  his  grace.  Thus  in  you 
is  realized  the  declaration  of  the- .Lord  Jesus,  that  the  wind 
bloweth  where  it  listesth.     (John  ii'i :  8.)" 

fi'Yes,"  said  the. lady',  "and  now,  knowing  thai  we  have 
eternal  life,  we  ought  to  walk  in  ^ho  l'ght  of  that  life,  and 
return  no  more  to  the  darkness  of  sin  and  the  world. " 

"  Yes/'  gaicTthe  minister;  "  return  no  more,  in  order  that 
we,  a  people  of  free  will,  may  walk  in  the  statutes  and  keep 
the  ordinances  of  God.  Is  it  not  fur  this  we  are  apprehended 
of  Jesus  Chris   ?     (Ezek.  xi :  18-20  ;  Phil,  iii  :12.)" 

"And    then,   sir,,;  said  the  daugdit.  r,    "glial  we   sin    no 

o,,  7  '  •  to  .         ?         ■     • 

more: 

"  Think  you,  dear  young  lady,"  replied  the  minister,  "that 
the  Christian  can  attain  to  a  sinless  state  here  below  ?" 

"But/'  said  she  timidly,  "  dojs  not  the  Apostle  John  'naf 
'  whosoever,  abideth  in   God    sinneth    not?'     (1    John 
iii  :fi.)"  '     - 

"  Shall  I  call  this,"  said  the  minister,  "  a  /ox,  or  rather  a 
wolf,  a  ravening  wolf?" 

"  But,"  said  the  mother,  "  since  '  faith  purifies  the  heart/ 
if  Qiir  faith  is  perfect,  will  there  be  in  us  any  more  sin  ?"' 

"  My  dear  madam,  if  faith  purifies  the  heart  from  error,  it 
is  the  Holy  Spirit  which  purifies  iffrooi  uncleanness,  but  our 
souls  will  not  be  entirely  cleansed  till  the  divine  life  shall  have 
swallowed  up  that  which  is  mortal  in  us." 

itkeir,  •"  Does  not  St..  John  say,  then,  that   the  child  of 
God  absolutely  sins  no  more?"  .  • 

"  Here  ist'he  passage,"  replied  the  minister,  "and  yon  can, 
.«ee  by  what  precedes  and  follows  it,  tha.  the  Apostle  declares 
that  the  child  of  God  no  longer  practices  sin — that  the  true 
disciple  of 'the  Saviour  is  not  a  worker  of  iniquity.  The 
Apostle  does  not  herein  contradict  what  l\p  say's  before,  when 
he  calls  upon  the  Christian  to  confess  his  sins  alter  knowing 
them.     (1  John  i:'8,  9,  10.)" 

"  Now  I  am  quite  satisfied,"  said  the  ftther.     "  I  sse 
though  daily  I  ha  e  reason  to  say  to  God,  '  Pardon  my  eins/1 
I  am  addressing,  a  Father,  and  nota  Judge;  and  I  understand 
that  se  long   as  I  shall  be   in  this  sinful   body,  I  shall,  a 


THE  FOX-HUNTER.  IS 

have  eonstant  reason  to  repeat  it.     01  inch  do  I  need 

to  trust  in  this  permanent  grace,  and  to   follow  more  elosclj 
my  Saviour!" 

l(  Amen  '"  said  the  minister.  ••'  1  his  is  indeed  the  result 
of  true  faith.  By  the  Holy  spirit  it  sheds  in  the  heart  the 
love -of  God,  and  thus  it  incites  this  heart  to  please  God,  fey 
keeping  his  commandments.  St.  John  says  t  is  expressly 
when  he  affirms  that  every  man  who  knows  that  he  will  fiaally 
be  glorified  in  heaven,  purifies  himself  while  he  is  upon  the 
earth.     (1  John  iii  :  3.)" 

"  Yes/'  said    the  young  lady;    •onfideutly   regarding   the 
minister,  "  when  ono  is  su  e  that  he  is  a  diamond,  he 
asks  the  lapidary  to  polish  him." 

;  "  And  remembering  even  then,"  said  the  minister.  '■  that 
the  labor  of  the  lapidary  is  long,  do  not  be  discouraged  if  the 
surfaces  are  polished  slowly  ;  but  imitating  the  husbandman 
who,  says  St.  James,  '  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit  of  the 
. arth,  and  hath  long  patience,'  (James  v  :  7,)  remember  that 
>  God,  who  spared  not  his  own  Son.  but  delivered  him  up  for 
us  to  death,  will  with  him  also  freely  give  us  all  thin 
(Rom.  viii :  32 ;  1  Thess.  v  :  24.)"' 

'f Rest,  then,  with  full  certainty,  in  the  l  faithfulness  of- 
God.'   (1  Cor.  i:8,  9.)" 

.\mon  !"  said  the  three  disciples;  and  they  said  it  in  the 
"•true  liberty  of  the  Gospel.     (John  viii: 36.) 


•fBUGGLING  AGAINST  JJ@1JBTS  AN©  FEAR8L 


When*  darkness  leng  lias  veiled  my  mind, 
Aad  smiling  day  once  more  appears, 

Than,  my  Redeemer,  then  I  find 
The  folly  of  my  doubts  and  fears. 

Straight  I  upbraid  my  wandering  heart, 
And  blush  that  I  should  e?er  be 

Thus  prone  to  act  so  base  a  part, 

Or  karfeour  one  hard  thought  of  thee. 

Oh  let  me  then  at  length  be  taught, 
What  I  .am  still  so  slow  to  learn, 

That  G©d  is  love  and  changes  not, 
Nor  knows  the  shadow  of  a  turn. 

Sweet  truth,  and  easy  to  repeat ; 

But  whea  my  faith  is  sharply  tried, 
I  find  myself  a  Jeai  ner  yet, 

Unskillful,  weak,  and  apt  to  slide. 

But,  0  nay  Lord,  one  look  from  thee 

Subdues  the  disobedient  will ; 
Drives  doubt  and  discontent  away, 
And  thy  rebelious  worm  is  still. 

Thou  art  as  ready  to  forgive, 

As  I  am  ready  to  repine  ; 
Thou,  therefore,  all  the  praise  receive  ; 

Be  *]sm$*  ***  !$1&  abhowreaee  mm®. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


